Prenatal genetic testing pilot

From 5 January 2015 within our regional Fetal Medicine
Unit there is a service implementation pilot being undertaken
jointly with the Bristol Genetics laboratory and
Clinical Genetics in order to improve our genetic testing.
There are two parts to this development:

1. For women with a raised Down's syndrome risk on
screening but a normal scan, we will offer the PCR rapid test. This
is an extremely accurate result for the trisomies (Down's, Edwards
and Patau's syndromes), gives a rapid result (in a few days) and
low rates of failure to give a result or obtain a difficult to
interpret result. This test for this indication has been supported
by the Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme of the National Screening
Committee since 2006.

We believe this combination of modern tests will provide
the best possible information for our patients. However since all
tests have advantages and disadvantages please read the information
leaflets (links above) and discuss any questions with your Fetal
Medicine doctor.